Calamity of Tomorrow

Zhou Bai looked at the distorted shadow before him and could also see himself through it.

It was as if he possessed two bodies, simultaneously controlling two different sets of senses, observing the world from two positions, two directions.

At first, it felt somewhat awkward, but Zhou Bai quickly adapted to the sensation. With a mere thought, the distorted shadow shrank to the size of a fist, a wisp of smoke, nimbly flying around the room.

Zhou Bai patted Elsa, who was beside him, and said, "Open your mouth."

Elsa opened her mouth and exhaled a large breath of Guihai Black Evil, then slumped to one side, continuously retching.

Zhou Bai controlled the Guihai Black Evil as it surged into the dark mist. He immediately felt that, using the distorted shadow, he could control the Guihai Black Evil and also activate the ability of the Mountain-like Stance.

'The distorted shadow possesses all my abilities, though it can only exert up to half my strength.'

'But even with only half my strength, as long as I don't encounter immortals or gods, I can dominate the world.'

With that thought, Zhou Bai controlled the distorted shadow to dart slightly, already leaving the dormitory building, chasing in the direction of Zheng Wentian.

...

On the other hand, since leaving, Zheng Wentian had looked somewhat uneasy, but he still didn't turn back, continuing towards the distant streets.

Just on the note he had recently received, those immortal breeds from the Thunder Department had arranged to meet him tonight.

Normally, Zheng Wentian would never agree to such a thing, as leaving the dormitory area meant leaving the protection of the Heavenly Sword elder, and he obviously couldn't protect himself against those celestial breeds.

However, they had used his younger brother and sister as leverage, compelling Zheng Wentian to leave his hiding in the dormitory.

Though the past Zheng Wentian was proud and arrogant, and there was often competition and oppression among the celestial breeds, he still had people he cared for and who cared for him—his brother and sister.

He had planned to ask Zhou Bai to accompany him, as Zhou Bai's strength should be enough to protect him. This plan was originally why he had come to Central City, to stay by Zhou Bai's side and rely on his protection.

But now, seeing the fierce competitions among the monks during the debates, feeling the numerous hopes people placed on Zhou Bai, the expectations for him in the Great Daluo Debate, he couldn't bear to shatter these hopes and thus, ultimately, gave up on the plan to rely on Zhou Bai's protection.

'Zhou Bai's goal is to be first in the Great Daluo Heaven debate... With his temperament, if he encounters those celestial breeds, there would certainly be conflict. If a fight breaks out at this time, if he is surrounded, injured… or if he injures another celestial breed and is held accountable…'

'Perhaps then, he won't be able to secure first place in the Great Daluo Heaven debate.'

After much thought, Zheng Wentian decided to go alone.

During his year and a bit in Donghua City, he had gradually come to understand what life was like for humans now; and in the recent months, he keenly felt just how much the people of Donghua City hoped Zhou Bai would win the Great Daluo Heaven debate.

'Perhaps if Zhou Bai becomes the champion of the Great Daluo Heaven debate, gathers the fortune of the whole tribe, and gains this legendary Ninth Realm weapon… Humans might truly gain a position to negotiate more terms with the celestials…'

'How could I, because of some petty issue… obstruct Zhou Bai's hope for victory?'

His mind incessantly replayed memories of his beloved older brother Zheng Zihua and the final decision he had made at the Great Tournament of Four Schools.

'Even we, as proud celestial breeds, are no more than pigs in the eyes of the celestials.'

'I might not be able to defy a celestial, but at least, I can choose my own path, like not burdening Zhou Bai…'

Thinking of this, Zheng Wentian's face showed a wry smile. In the past, he would never have thought about not being a burden to others, but at this moment, having lived in the communal environment of Donghua City, he understood that not everyone in this world could be the protagonist.

The operation of the world, the development of society, needed not only dazzling protagonists, but also the silent contributions of countless supporting characters.

"I may not be able to be a brilliant protagonist like Zhou Bai, but I can make my own efforts to change the world in my own way..."

"Everyone is protecting and supporting Zhou Bai. I can't lag behind now..."

Zheng Wentian's steps grew firmer as he walked towards the agreed location, his mind made up. He decided to sever the entanglement between him and the immortals of Lei Department by himself.

"After all, I have no deadly enemies there, at worst I would just be beaten half to death..."

With his resolution firm in his mind, Zheng Wentian arrived at the designated place, a construction site in a sparsely populated civilian area.

The construction site housed a hospital that was half-built, originally intended for civilians but delayed for over a decade due to various reasons including material shortages, leaving only this unfinished site.

Walking on the pitch-black construction site, the howling of the night wind continuously whispered in his ears. Zheng Wentian recalled some rumors about this place: "It's said that one night during the hospital construction, someone mutated here."

"The next morning, the workers who came to take over the shift found that the workers from the previous night had all disappeared."

"Leaving behind only fifteen half-corpses."

"As for the other half of those bodies and the sixteenth worker, they could never be found. It was rumored that he was the worker who mutated."

"Rumors say that even now, that worker hides in this abandoned site. In the deep silence of the night, you can hear chewing sounds. He's eating the remaining corpses."

Zheng Wentian shook his head, dismissing these urban legends to the back of his mind. If there really were mutations, the gods would have taken them away long ago; they couldn't still be here.

He walked through the semi-abandoned site, feeling as if something in the darkness was watching him.

Zheng Wentian spoke out loud, "I'm here. If you have anything to say, come out and say it face-to-face. Don't involve others."

From the darkness, the sharp laughter of men and women erupted. Shadows emerged in the corners nearby, and a male voice spoke up, "Zheng Wentian, have you truly betrayed the Celestial Court to side with those mortals of the Three Pure Dao Sect?"

Zheng Wentian replied, "The Three Pure Dao Sect is also under the Celestial Court. How does that count as betrayal?"

But Zheng Wentian's retort did not convince the other party. Instead, it sparked their anger, and voices burst forth from the darkness, criticizing Zheng Wentian's actions.

"You still dare to argue? Three Pure Dao Sect, Leiyin Temple, Jijian Pavilion are ungrateful, trying to become independent from the Celestial Court. Haven't you seen how they've increasingly refused to cooperate with the Celestial Court's command over the years?"

"You, as a son of the Zi Yang True Monarch, as a person of the Lei Department, how could you betray the Celestial Court?"

"The Celestial Court has supported you for so long, provided for your food, drink, and cultivation, giving you the best conditions, and now you side with mortals?"

"This traitor! Betraying from within... and even siding with those peasants?"

"He is a thankless wretch! The Celestial Court has raised him in vain for so long!"

"You've completely discredited the Lei Department."

Zheng Wentian earnestly said, "We are humans first and foremost! Then we are divine breeds! What do you think the gods consider us? We are but their dogs. Our fate is tied with that of humanity, our true kin. Only when humans achieve freedom can we break free from the shackles of the Lei Department..."